Princeton University Astronomy Colloquium

The first Super-Earths have recently been discovered. We present models for rocky Super-Earth atmospheres and derive detectable features in transmission and emergent spectra for future space- and ground based telescopes like the James Webb Space Telescope. As a specific example, we show under which condition the recently discovered M-dwarf planet Gl581 d is potentially habitable. This talk will focus on the cross-disciplinary connection between planetary science, biology and astronomy and explore its remotely detectable features in a planets atmosphere. The observational features of the planet are used to derive observable quantities to examine if our concept of habitability is correct. While many uncertainties remain (as will be discussed), our calculations attest to the potential for the habitability of, and detection of biosignatures on super-Earths, and rocky planets around very low mass stars and their detectability in the near future.